Neurological sponge



April 17, 1962 w. HIRSCH ETAL NEUROLOGICAL SPONGE Filed June 16, 1959FIG. 3

FIG. 2

; IN V EN TORS- WM/F/PE'D H/RSCI/ Ari-04 1 United States Patentfl3,029,818 NEUROLOGIQAL SPONGE Winfred Hirsch, 135 Lawrence Place, NewRochelle, N.Y., and Ruth M. Stoltz, 71 Locust Lane, Roslyn Heights, N.Y.

Filed June 16, 1959, Ser. No. 820,731 2 Claims. (Cl. 128-296) Thisinvention relates to absorbent elements especially intended for use inditficult surgery, such as brain surgery, although its application isnot limited to that type of surgery.

Absorbent elements employed in surgical operations are Well known in theform of tampons which are usually made by applying absorbent cottonabout either a wooden support or held in suitable surgical instruments.However these types of tampons are not safe for delicate operations,such as brain surgery since absorbent cotton elements may loosen or slipoff, and may either wholly or partly remain in a surgical opening,especially in brain surgery.

The present invention contemplates an inexpensive absorbent elementwhich is effective in its intended function and is not only very simplein construction but is absolutely safe for both the surgeon and thepatient, since its complete bodily removal after use is definitelyassured.

:The prime object of this invention therefore is the provision of asimple, inexpensive, most effective and safe.

absorbent element or sponge which is easily handled both for insertingit where needed, as well as in its complete removal after use, therebyminimizing contamination and similar undesired complications.

The foregoing and further objects of the present invention will becomemore fully evident from the ensuing description in connection with theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a neurological sponge constructed inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged top view of a portion of that sponge with aportion of the locking thread removed;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged bottom portion thereof; and

FIG. 4 is a greatly enlarged cross section taken along lines 4-4 of FIG.2.

In the drawings, numeral denotes an absorbent pad constituting a fiatbody composed of a plurality of superimposed individual, non-wovenlayers 11 of mixed absorbent cotton and absorbent rayon fibre 11. All ofthe fibres are shown improportionately large in size to more clearlyindicate their parallel relation to each other. The rayon fibres mixedwith the cotton fibres are intended to prevent the loosening of smallcotton particles or lint. The individual absorbent rayon and cottonfibres of each layer are disposed in closely adjacent relation to eachother and in a single direction so that the fibres in all layers aresubstantially parallel to one another. These superimposed non-wovenindividual layers 1 1, clearly seen in FIG. 4, are held together by alock stitch formation composed of thread 12 with the aid of a bobbinthread 12. That lock-stitching formation is directed transversely to thefibres first in one direction from one edge of the layers towards theiropposite edge and then in reverse direction. (See FIG. 1.) The ends ofboth threads are adapted to extend a substantial distance, say at leastnine inches, beyond that one edge of the absorbent layers. It is alsopreferred that the lock-stitching is relatively coarse, preferablyconsisting of at least six stitches per inch in each of the twodirections, and wherein the two courses of lock stitches are slightlyspaced from one another as clearly seen in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. Boththreads employed are preferably of a sturdy construction to withstandany pulling action exerted thereon 3,029,818 Patented Apr. 17, 19 62when the sponge is to be removed. In fact, either of the threads must bestrong enough to prevent breaking, in the event it becomes necessary tosever one of the extending threads and leaving but a single thread forpulling the sponge from a wound after use.

As will be observed from all of the figures in the drawings, theindividual absorbent fibres 11 in each individual layer 11 are, asalready stated, in parallel relation to one another, and the courses oflock stitches 13 and 14 in opposite directions passing through the superimposed absorbent layers, lock the parallel fibres of each layer againstdisengagement and raveling so that when the absorbent element is used,the individual fibres will absorb moisture from their outer edgestowards the lock stitching, in other words, over substantially theirfull length, thus eifecting a maximum absorbent function of the finishedstructure. ing is rather on the coarse type, the absorption of moistureby most of the individual, parallel cotton and rayon fibres takes placeeven through the lock stitched area,

thus effecting a still more complete moisture absorption throughout theentire sponge. I

In order to more fully emphasize the importance of the presentneurological sponge, it is re-stated that the individual layers formingthe sponge are not Wovern'that they are composed of substantiallyparallel andinter-5 mixed rayon and cotton fibres, and that the thusformed layers are held together by a coarse lock stitching of strongthreads.

The intermixing of rayon fibres with cotton fibres prevents cottonparticles or lint from loosening and separating from the layers, andthat feature of preventing separation of loose absorbent material fromthe sponge body is an important prerequisite of a safemoisture-absorbent device.

Considering a Wound made by a surgical incision, especially in brainsurgery, it is essential to quickly and safely remove blood and otherfast accumulating fluids, without leaving the slightest traces offoreign matter in the wound. If an absorbent element is used which wouldallow particles, such as cotton lint, to separate and to remain in thewound after closing an incision in a brain operation, the cerebralspinal fluid can carry such particles to the base of the brain and fromthere to other parts of the head, and induce fibrosis, that is anabnormal formation of fibrous tissue, or other undesired body and tissuereactions, which must be avoided in surgery, especially in brainsurgery, since they may prove fatal.

While it is preferred that the shape of the absorbent element besubstantially parallelogrammatic, as shown in FIG. 1, the sponge may bemade in any other suitable form, depending upon its intended use,however the application and the function of strong cotton threads fornot only locking the fibres in their parallel relation to one another ineach of the layers 11, but also to produce secure means for completelyand safely removing the absorbent element after use Without leavingparticles there of in the wound, is an essential requirement of anabsorbent sponge, irrespective of its shape.

The lock stitching connecting the layers 11 is suiticiently secure toretain the parallel fibres in each layer in their intended position,even if the extending end of one of the threads would be cut off,leaving but a single thread still connected with the absorbent element,which Moreover, since the lock stitch-.

placed one on top of the other, and are held together by passing througha restricted portion, approximate their central area, of a lock stitchedformation of threads, the lock stitching progressing first in onedirection from one edge of the layers toward their opposite edge, andthen in reverse direction from their opposite edge to that one edge, andpermitting the two ends of the threads to extend a substantial distancebeyond that one edge of the thus completed absorbent element. While onlya single structure of the neurological sponge is illustrated in thedrawings, its shape as well as its arrangement, that is to say itsdimension and thickness may be altered depending upon the intended useof the sponge. For this reason it is believed that changes required inthe form and shape of the sponge structure may be made without departingfrom the broad idea of a neurological sponge as defined in the annexedclaims.

What is claimed as new is:

1. In a neurological sponge structure for surgical uses, the combinationwith a fiat body composed of a plurality of superimposed, individual,non woven layers of absorb ent material, such as a mixture of cotton andrayon, and wherein each of the layers is formed of individual,parallelly disposed absorbent fibres arranged in a single direction, andwherein the fibres of all layers are substantially parallel to eachother, of a lock stitch thread formation progressing transversely acrossand substantially at right angles to the parallel fibres of and passingthrough all of the layers, the lock stitch thread formation progressingfirst in one direction across the structure and then, as a continuousthread formation, back in opposite direction, but at a slight spacingfrom the lock stitch thread formation in that one direction, both endsof the thread formation emerging from one edge of the sponge body andextending a substantial distance beyond that one edge thereof.

2. In a neurological sponge structure for surgical uses, the combinationwith a fiat body composed of a plurality of superimposed, individual,non woven layers of absorbent material, such as a mixture of cotton andrayon, and wherein each of the layers is formed of individual,parallelly disposed absorbent fibres arranged in a single direction, andwherein the fibres of all layers are substantially parallel to eachother, of a lock stitch thread formation progressing transversely acrossand substantially at right angles to the parallel fibres of and passingthrough all of the layers, the lock stitch thread formation progressingfirst in one direction across the structure to a point substantially atthe end of the structure, and then, as a continuous thread formation,back in opposite direction, but at a slight spacing from the lock stitchthread formation in that one direction, both ends of the threadformation emerging from one edge of the sponge body and extending asubstantial distance beyond that one edge thereof.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,761,449 Bletzinger Sept. 4, 1956

